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Solar
bird baths are dynamic elements in any garden design and so easy to install. You'll
see!
And the sight and sound of water and wildlife
always add to the pleasure of being outdoors.
Use this guide as inspiration as you
gather bird bath ideas.
Everything you need to know is
right here.
Find out how
these bird baths work.
Discover how to easily create harmony and
attract wildlife to your yard.
We'll also talk about bird bath maintenance,
styles, and upgrades.
And there's more if you have a little time to linger.
Just scroll down to read about my solar bird
bath experiences.
When I first thought about using
solar bird baths and solar
garden fountains to decorate my yard, I was
only concerned with how they would look and what it
would cost me.
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There
was no way I could have guessed at the harmonious relationship
that would develop between the birds and me or the delight
they would bring to my life.
How It All
Started
As usual, I was puttering around the yard pretty early one
morning. I was trying to decide how to accessorize the low
hanging branches of several shade trees in my back yard.
Yes, I tend to accessorize tree branches. I’m just crazy
like that.
Anyway, it wasn’t quite daybreak, and all was still and
quiet. After a while, I heard a bird calling from far away.
Then another responded from a different direction, only
closer. As the sun rose, back and forth they sang to each
other with more joining in.
I knew there were lots of birds in the neighborhood,
because there was always lots of singing. But I only saw them
from a distance as they flew among the treetops.
Then It Hit
Me!
A solar bird bath fountain would be
perfect.
And if I used
the kind with remote solar panels, I could nestle the fountain
in the shade under the tree's low hanging branches and put the
panels somewhere in the sun.
The sight and sound of flowing water would
definitely attract the birds, giving me a chance to see them
up close.
And the low hanging branches would give the birds the
perfect approach to the water where they would drink and
play.
How It All Turned
Out
Well, the neighborhood birds love the
fountain so much that they’ve made my yard their permanent
playground.
Now I get to
watch them up close and learn their habits and personalities.
Then something amazing
happened. Because I spend so much time in the yard,
the birds have become accustomed to my presence.
I can walk within a few feet of them, and they
don’t fly off, but just continue to play!
There’s this one bird I’ve named Alpha
because he always makes the first move. He'll fly in for
a drink usually in late afternoon.
After he’s been there a few seconds, several
of his friends fly out of the trees and join him.
They splash all around drinking and playing so happily in
the water. But once Alpha gets bored, he flies off. And a few
seconds later, the other birds follow.
The fascinating thing is Alpha and his
flock can keep this up for 20 minutes or more!
It’s become a daily routine for
them and me. He leads, they follow. Down to the fountain to
drink and play then back to the trees. Alpha first, with the
others following his lead.
There’s nothing I love more than decorating outdoors. Being close
to nature in my own yard makes me so happy and gives me
peace of mind.
I want you to know this feeling. So if you’re thinking
about a solar bird bath, here are a few tips to help make it
the best experience it can be.
How Solar Bird Baths
Work
A solar panel in the fountain’s basin collects the sun’s
energy. A pump, usually in the base of fountain, connects to
the panel and uses the energy to circulate the water.
The panel must be in direct sunlight
or the fountain won’t work.
When it’s cloudy or dark outside, the water is still.
But once day breaks or the clouds pass, the water
automatically flows again.
To make the best choice possible, you
should first decide where you’ll use your fountain.
How To Choose A Solar
Bird Bath
If you’re decorating a shady area,
it’s important to choose a bird bath with a solar panel that
isn’t attached.
You’ll
position the panel where you're sure it will get sun all
day long. And the fountain can go anywhere you like – sun or
shade.
I you're like me and enjoy changing
your outdoor décor with the seasons, just mount the
panels where you know the sun always shines.
During cooler months, your solar bird
bath can sit in full sun. When the hot summer months
arrive, you can move it to the shade.
On the other hand, a solar bird
bath with an attached solar panel is a good choice only if
you’re decorating a space that gets sun all day long and you
don’t plan on moving it.
You'll just put the whole unit where you know the sun will
shine all day and enjoy.
Both are very easy to find and easy to
set up as well – so no worries.
If you're stumped for a solar bird bath fountain style, and
you already have architectural elements in your yard like
a pergola or gazebo, why choose a solar bird bath fountain
that matches?
Creating Harmony Is
Simple
And interesting, too. When you first
position the solar bird bath, the birds will seem totally
uninterested.
But
believe me, they notice. Especially if you're using a solar
birdbath fountain. They’re waiting to see what happens next.
Put some birdseed out daily and change
the bird bath water on a regular basis.
Having a reliable source of clean,
moving water and birdseed in your yard will go a long way
towards establishing a harmonious and
long-lasting relationship.
After a few days, you’ll see the
bravest birds begin to explore the bird bath.
And after a few weeks, they all start
to feel right at home and your solar bird bath becomes
the most popular place in the neighborhood.
Choosing A
Style
Probably the most common birdbath style you’ll find has a
basin that rests on a pedestal.
But you could also go with a suspended
birdbath. These have 3 or 4 chains fastened to the basin’s
rim.
The chains come
together at a single point at the opposite end where you can
hang them on a hook or some other support.
There's also a ground-level variety. Rather than being
supported by a pedestal or suspended on chains, these are
designed to rest on the ground.
Birds love any water that is clean and moving, so choosing
a solar bird bath style is completely up to you. Just have fun
with it. You can’t go wrong.
Solar Bird Baths
Upgrades
Birds need to stay hydrated all year
long, including winter when water in liquid form is sometimes
harder to find.
Heated
birdbaths, sometimes called a birdbath deicer, solve this
problem.
A bird's sense
of smell isn't great, but their eyesight and hearing are
excellent.
With the landscape changing so dramatically during the
winter months, the sight and sound of flowing water makes it
easier for birds to find a water source.
Bird bath
heaters keep the water from freezing throughout the cold winter
months.
And the heating elements are detachable so they're easily
removed when they're not needed.
Monitor the water level often,
especially in summer when evaporation occurs more quickly.
And keep the fountain clean
by periodically wiping it down and completely replacing the
water.
There are also natural enzymes you can
add to the water.
They help the water stay cleaner longer and also prevent algae
and mineral build up.
Solar bird bath fountains are pretty
rugged, but the solar panel can be damaged if left in freezing
temperatures.
So you want to remove the panel and store it
indoors just before winter sets in. It’s an easy process that only
takes a few minutes.
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